The Minimalists are Emmy-nominated Netflix stars and New York Times–bestselling authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. Alongside their podcast cohost, T.K. Coleman, this simple-living trio helps millions of people eliminate clutter and live meaningfully with less. Learn More.

The Forced Use Rule

If you find something in your home that you didn’t realize you still owned—something you haven’t used in a while—you can use the Didn’t Know Rule to get rid of it immediately.

If that feels too abrupt, force yourself to use the item over the next week.

Maybe it’s an obscure kitchen utensil buried in the back of a cabinet. Or maybe it’s an unworn sweatshirt, sundress, or shoehorn concealed by cluttered clothes in your closet.

If using it feels cumbersome—or worse, if it feels like a chore—then it no longer fits into your life. It’s time to let it go.

In other words: use it or lose it.

After all, if you’re looking for excuses to use something, you’ve already discovered you don’t need it.